The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has signed a one-year partnership with an International Non-Governmental Organisation, Save the Children International, to monitor the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) in the country as a third party.

Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq said monitoring of NSIP and other activities of the ministry will increase the citizens’ trust in the government and hasten the effectiveness of the NSIP to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

Farouq said: “The need to closely monitor and evaluate these investments is an important component of the NSIP and its role in program implementation cannot be underrated. This is the primary reason why the ministry deliberately launched a strategy on M&E at many levels.

“At the local level, the ministry engaged the services of 7,500 Independent Monitors (IMs) spread across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. These 7500 Independent Monitors are currently on the field monitoring the implementation of the NSIP. Every month, over 250,000 unique programme reports are submitted by the Independent Monitors.

“To further foster accountability, transparency and effectiveness, through this M&E strategy, I directed the engagement of Civil Society Organisations as an additional layer of close monitoring.

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“Through this partnership, Save the Children International will engage the services of eighteen (18) other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to provide third-party monitoring of NSIPs. These CSOs will provide independent reports on NSIPs in the states they deliver their support.

“Furthermore, they will provide additional capacity building to the Independent Monitors as well as carry out spot checks in locations of the NSIP Implementation. I am therefore delighted to officially endorse this partnership document to enable the onboarding of Third-Party Civil Society Organisations as an additional layer of monitoring for the National Social Investment Programme”.

The minister, however, appealed to the Civil Society Organisations being engaged and other relevant stakeholders involved in the monitoring of NSIP to take the assignment patriotically as part of their contribution to nation-building.

In his remarks, the Country Director, who was represented by the Director of Program, Faton Krasniqi, expressed appreciation for the role and achievements of the ministry in advancing the well-being and development of Nigerians.

“Global best practices in implementing social interventions describe a process for mainstreaming social accountability through a step-by-step process that builds on communications and awareness activities, empowering beneficiaries.

“It is believed that this will encourage transparency and accountability behavior from service providers, as well as be a mechanism through which beneficiaries and their communities can gain confidence in their ability to effect positive change. An effective Social Accountability mechanism will help in improving service levels to the Citizens, thereby ensuring that government gets a better return on investment,” Krasniqi said.

The Star